Abstract: Described are processes that include the non-enzymatic, hydrolytic liquefaction of lignocellulosic biomass to form digest slurries and heat recovery from such digest slurries. Due to enhanced flow properties of the digest slurries such heat recovery can be efficiently conducted in spiral, plate and frame or other heat exchanger designs, with the recovered heat going to unit operations of the process such as heating incoming pretreatment media for the liquefaction. Processes can also involve additional hydrolytic digestion of some or all of the initial slurry components with enzyme and/or additional heat recovery from the initial slurry by direct contact heat exchange in which a portion of the digest slurry liquids is flashed to vapor and that vapor is condensed onto incoming lignocellulosic biomass to the process. Processes as described can be integrated into ethanol manufacture by fermentation of sugars from the digested compositions.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a content in a multimedia streaming system is provided. The method includes transmitting, to a client device, control information regarding contents, and transmitting, to the client device, a plurality of segments specified by the control information, where the plurality of segments comprises an initialization segment (IS) and a media segment (MS) and the media data in the plurality of segments are addressed by using relative addressing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a low-friction member imitating shark skin and a manufacturing method therefor, the low-friction member implementing a structure similar to shark skin and having riblets by stacking, in layers, composite particles formed by attaching spherical particles on the surfaces of plate-shaped particles, and thus the low-friction member has excellent low-friction characteristics. The present invention comprises: a base plate; plate-shaped particles stacked in layers on the surface of the base plate in the form of scales; and a plurality of spherical metal lubricating particles having a size smaller than that of the plate-shaped particles, and coated on the surfaces of the plate-shaped particles, wherein the metal lubricating particles are arranged in the form of a bridge connecting the base plate and the plate-shaped particles, and the plate-shaped particles to each other.

Abstract: The hybrid partial power processing system includes differential power processing converters DPPs having low power ratings, which are used to exchange differential power between two adjacent PV modules, or between PV modules and a line capacitor (Clin) connected in series within the same string. The exchange of differential power by DPPs is needed to track the maximum power point of each PV module in the string. The DC power optimizing converter (DC-PO) is a DC/DC power converter used to feed current (power) from a PV module to Clin. The DC-PO is driven to track the maximum power point (MPP) of one PV module, and the MPP of each one of the remaining PV modules in the string is tracked by a DPP.

Abstract: A stent graft has a tubular body with a first bifurcation with first and second legs extending from the bifurcation. One of the legs has a further bifurcation to define a side arm. The stent graft can be deployed into the vasculature of a patient with the tubular body being in an aorta of the patient, a first leg extending down an iliac artery, a second leg being directed towards a contralateral iliac artery and the side arm directed to an internal artery of one of the iliac arteries. One of the legs can include a valved aperture to enable the placement of an indwelling catheter therethrough.

Abstract: The present invention provides method of classifying a subject into a necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME) disease risk group. The method may include assessing the presence of one or more marker (e.g., SNPs or risk loci) in a sample from the subject. For example, detection of the presence of one or more markers that are associated with an increased risk of NME can indicate that the subject should be classified into a risk group.

Abstract: A method of digesting a lignocellulosic material is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the step of exposing the material to an effective amount of Streptomyces sp. ActE secretome such that at least partial lignocellulosic digestion occurs.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a metal-containing apparatus including a substrate member constructed of a metal that is highly resistant to pitting corrosion and wear in aggressive media. An exemplary metal-containing apparatus is a plate heat exchanger. The metal includes an oxidation layer on the surface thereof and a thin metal oxide nanoporous film on top of the oxidation layer. The nanoporous film is highly compliant and is comprised of oxygen and aluminum, titanium, silicon, zirconium and combinations thereof.

Abstract: An impact test system includes a head model having a head exterior component; a skull component; a brain component; a fluid component; an interior cavity surface; and a translucent cover, wherein the head model is coupled with a mount, the brain component and fluid components are configured within the interior cavity, and wherein the translucent cover is configured over a portion of the brain component and fluid component. A mount is configured to a least partially restrain the head model. A camera is configured to take a plurality of images of the brain and the fluid components through the translucent cover when the head model is under an impact force.

Abstract: A piston, particularly a piston for use in a diesel engine, particularly a heavy duty diesel engine, is formed from a billet of metal, such that the finished piston has a mass that is at least 50%, and, more preferably, up to about 62%, of the mass of the billet. Other than finishing steps, the piston is formed with a closed gallery, without loss of mass through machining processes.

Abstract: A comprehensive process for treating lignocellulosic biomass in order to separate the biomass into its component parts, the process comprising: a) contacting the lignocellulosic biomass with a first solvent for a period of time and at a first temperature at a severity in the range of about 2 to about 4 to remove extractive components and a portion of ash from the biomass; b) contacting the biomass from step (a) with a second solvent, and optional catalyst, at a second temperature at a severity in the range of about 1 to 5 to remove hemicelluloses and additional ash from the biomass; and c) separating the biomass from step (b) into a lignin product and a cellulose product by contacting the biomass from step (b) with a third solvent at a severity in the range of about 1.5 to 5 to provide a spent liquor product and a solid fraction containing cellulose.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting code cloning of software includes a memory in which a program configured to detect code cloning from software is stored; and a processor configured to execute the program. Wherein the processor extracts multiple functions from a source code corresponding to the software, performs normalization and abstraction and compares the normalized and abstracted multiple functions with a vulnerable code clone set to determine whether there is code cloning of the software, and the vulnerable code clone set includes multiple vulnerable codes which are extracted from multiple functions included in other software, and normalized, abstracted and then stored.

Abstract: A power switch capable of preventing a reverse connection is provided. The power switch includes a switch that is configured to supply power of a battery to a load or block the power of the battery and a protector that is connected to an output terminal of the switch and blocks the power applied from the battery when the battery is reversely connected and a driver is configured to operate a driving of the switch and the protector.

Abstract: This document provides polypeptide inhibitors of Smad3 polypeptide activities. For example, methods and materials for using polypeptides (e.g., polypeptides designed to include both a cell penetrating amino acid sequence and an amino acid segment of a SH3 domain of a SNX9 polypeptide) to inhibit one or more Smad3 polypeptide activities are provided. This document also provides methods and materials for using RNA interference to treat a disease (e.g., a fibrotic disease) in a mammal (e.g., a human).

Abstract: This document relates to methods and materials for producing immune responses against polypeptides involved in antibiotic resistance. For example, vaccines against polypeptides involved in antibiotic resistance as well as methods for vaccinating mammals against polypeptides involved in antibiotic resistance are provided.

Abstract: A delta-sigma modulator includes a first integrator configured to integrate a sum of an input signal and a first feedback signal, a second integrator configured to integrate a sum of an output value of the first integrator and a second feedback signal, a first FIR filter circuit configured to perform a first FIR filtering on an output modulation signal and a delay modulation signal and feeds back the signals to stage prior to the first integrator, and a second FIR filter circuit configured to perform a second FIR filtering on the output modulation signal and the delay modulation signal and feeds back the signals to a stage prior to the second integrator.

Abstract: A method that uses at least one hardware processor for receiving a three-dimensional model of an object, receiving an audio sequence embodied as a digital file that comprises a musical composition, generating a video frame sequence, and synthesizing the audio sequence and the video frame sequence into an audiovisual clip. The three-dimensional model is embodied as a digital file that comprises a representation of the object. The generating step comprises computing a caricature of the object by applying a computerized caricaturization algorithm to the three-dimensional model. The computing has scaling gradient fields of surface coordinates of the three-dimensional model by a function of a Gaussian curvature of the surface, and finding a regular surface whose gradient fields fit the scaled gradient fields.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sodium-air battery comprising a high-concentration electrolyte which can increase the chemical stability of the battery material and the discharge product in the sodium-air battery. The use of a liquid electrolyte comprising an ether-based solvent and a sodium salt at a concentration of 4 M or less but exceeding 0.5 M can significantly increase the chemical stability of the sodium-air battery and can suppress the formation of dendrites on the anode.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to films. The films can include polyamic acid (PAA). Methods of making and using the film for food product coverings is also included.

Abstract: The instant application relates to methods for determining pancreatic cancer patient outcome and directing treatment to subjects with pancreatic cancer. The present disclosure further provides methods for measuring expression levels of cytokeratin 17 in a subject having pancreatic cancer, such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, in order to determine the subject's survival rate and clinical outcome.